I gnawed at every root.
I ate of every plant.
I came upon no fruit.
So wonderful as want.
-Feast, Edna St. Vincent Millay
My name is Ana Sofia Peláez and my love for food started with a small inheritance. Specifically, a 1970’s Sunbeam mixer that belonged to my grandparents and found it’s way to my Brooklyn apartment. Growing up, I loved being in their yellow kitchen, watching them make Cuban desserts with that same mixer. I was fascinated by the way they added the sugar to the butter to the flour knowing at exactly which point it all came together for the perfect result.
Leaving Miami for New York to attend Barnard College, I didn’t cook very often. After graduation, I worked for non-profit organizations and later film production. When the Sunbeam arrived, I was determined to put it to use; but, when I found their faded recipe cards, I realized they’d only listed the ingredients, never how they did it. Determined to find my way back to the yellow kitchen, I started retracing their steps through the few cookbooks I had, always searching for the point they reached unerringly. A recipe would lead to a new book which led to a website which led to a class and then to another recipe. The more I practiced, read, experimented, the more I fell in love with absolutely anything and everything to do with food. I love the writers, the odd conversations in random stores looking for ingredients, the pleased look on someone’s face when they tell me they have a great recipe I could try and the moment of alarm when I really ask for it. Mostly I love the possibility of contentment that good food promises if only for a moment, and that I try to capture in my entries. So to answer the question, I’m hungry because it’s never enough and it’s never enough because I’m just so hungry.
This is awesome. I am so glad you are doing this blog. I will send you a copy of a 1927 cook book published my grandmother in Cuba. Her receipts are all in quantities to feed huge families… you might enjoy some of the receipts.
I would love that! Don’t worry all Cuban cookbooks I see have enormous portions so I’m used cutting everything in half.
Sofia: I LOVE your blog, I LOVE the writing and the graphics and the pictures. Most excellent, really!! And by the way, are those chairs Chiqui is sitting on in the pictures? The fabric is amazing. Well. your blog is one more thing to put on my list of “must read” on a regular basis. You know, I feel the love in your words that you have for food and the creative process. Sometimes I feel the same way about flower arranging, hanging art or just arranging a room. I’ll ask my mom about cuban family recipes. Happy Bithday, Cami. love to you both, lourdes
Thank you! I would love any family recipes she’d be willing to share. Fabric is missoni.
Everything looks delicious.
Occasionally I apt/cat sit at this fancy apt
with a nice kitchen and whatnot.
Next time I’m there,
I promise to make something from your page.
Thanks!
joe
Hi, cool post. I have been wondering about this topic,so thanks for writing.
Like you, I inherited my grandmother’s Sunbeam mixer. However, mine has stayed in my cabinet for way to many years unused. You may have just inspired me to pull it out, dust it off and try a few of my grandmother’s recipes. Thanks.
Ana I loved your blog and what you say about me……………..and it is true, chileans and peruvians are still fighting about the chirimoyas ( chileans want to change the name to chilemoyas) and of course they say PISCO (peruvian tequila) is chilean, even though there is a town in Peru ( we were there this weekend) called Pisco and there is where all started.Love and keep up the good work
Flory
Hello from Miami!I just stumbled across your blog in doing some research about El Palacio de los Jugos. I’ve only poked around a bit and I’m definitely adding it to my reader.
Hi Ana! I discovered your blog through the comment you made on my guest post over at From Argentina With Love. I’ve been perusing your blog, and it looks like you have some great stories and recipes. I don’t know much about Latin Cuisine outside of Argentine and Mexican food, so I’m very interested in your blog. I’ll be adding you to my feed reader. Greetings from Necochea, Argentina!
Thank you! Congratulations again on the Torta de Ochenta Golpes – I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Sofia, I am really glad I found your blog,i am passionate about latin american food, and if you have a moment and visit my blog, you can tell! Your blog is fantastic and the photos are gret, I am adding it to my blog list right away! Viva Latinomerica y su comida!
Besos desde Londres, de una española,
pity
Thank you for sending me your link – it looks wonderful and I can’t wait to catch up on past posts!
Hi Sofia
Stumbled upon your blog, I live in Costa Rica, and I knew your Dad (QPD)at UFla, we were frat brothers, I know your Mom and your uncles Blas and Tony from La Salle HS in Cuba.
Please say Hi to your Mom, haven´t seen her (or you) since you were 4-5 years old.
I´m a late-comer to foodieworld, but I´ve been cooking all my life, started with Cocina al Minuto de Nitza Villapol, read Larousse Gastronomique for fun, bake bread, make sausage and paté, love my slow cooker crock pot, homemade mayo, fresh chevre.
Love your blog, keep up the good work.
Jose
I just want to thank you for your bolg. It has helped me so much! I come from Cuban and Costarican parents and I was born and raised in Miami. I pretty much grew up on a Cuban diet. But that did’t stop me from enjoying food from all over the world. Now that I’m 28 I regret not learning on how to cook Cuban. I just always left the cooking up to someone else. I recently moved to Maryland and I’m 6 months pregnant and craving all of those warm dishes and sweet treats that you can only find just about on every corner in Miami. So I decided to try doing them myself. I was searching for a recipe for Potaje de garbanzos and there you were. Ever since I’v been tring all of your recipes. By the way the garbanzos were super!! Thanks again and I’l be looking foward to new post.
I know how you feel. I definitely appreciated Cuban food more after leaving Miami. I’m happy the recipes are working out for you!